FAIRHOPE — The Baldwin County Commission unanimously agreed residents should not pay taxes on hearing aids.
The Commission approved a tax exemption for hearing instruments on Tuesday. The resolution was effective immediately upon adoption and will remove the county tax portion.
In her last meeting as Commission chairman, Billie Jo Underwood said the resolution would help improve the quality of life for people in Baldwin County.
"I think once people get them [hearing aids], the difference in their life," Underwood said. "And if people are leaving the workforce because of that, this is a very, very, very, very, very, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny thing that we can do and I'll go back to It should have never been taxed to begin with."
State Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile) said she didn't realize hearing aids were taxed in Alabama and in counties and cities until a constituent brought it to her attention. She immediately went to work researching what other states charged the tax, and Alabama was one of only three.
"I found out through the Department of Rehabilitation that one of the top two reasons why our experienced people leave the workforce is due to hearing loss and then so many of you know that a lot of insurance plans don't cover hearing aids," Wilcox said. "They are quite expensive."
Wilcox sponsored a bill that was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey. The law will sunset in 2029, but Wilcox believes it will be renewed.
The lawmaker continues to ask cities and counties to pass resolutions abating their local hearing aid tax.
"It is a struggle to get this on the agendas to remove any sources of revenue, so I appreciate y'all's courage and your forward-thinking on it," Wilcox told the Commission.
Last month, the Foley City Council passed a resolution exempting hearing aids from local taxes.
The Baldwin County Commission will meet again on November 5 at the Baldwin County Administration Building in Bay Minette. At that time, Commissioner Matt McKenzie will take over as chair.
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